Thank you for pointing that out! I wasn't aware of the difference between 1040 and 1040-NR for international students. Do you know if the education credits work the same way on the 1040-NR? I'm trying to figure out if I'd still get a refund from my 1098-T expenses.

The education credits work differently for nonresident aliens. If you were a nonresident alien for tax purposes (which most F-1 students are in their first 5 calendar years in the US), you would not be eligible for the American Opportunity Credit. However, you might qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit depending on your specific situation. The Lifetime Learning Credit could still generate a refund, though it's generally less generous than the AOTC. Your eligibility also depends on whether your home country has a tax treaty with the US that specifically allows education credits. Some countries have provisions that make these benefits available while others don't.

Is the deadline different for international students? I heard something about special extensions for those on F-1 visas but not sure if that applies to refund deadlines or just filing requirements.

So if OP files with the new W-2 info, will they get flagged for audit since the IRS has the old numbers?

It's not an automatic audit trigger, but it does create a mismatch that could result in a notice from the IRS. Their systems will show the original W-2 amounts reported by your employer, while your tax return will show different figures. This discrepancy typically results in a CP2000 notice (proposed tax adjustment) rather than a full audit. The IRS will basically say "We have different numbers than what you reported" and ask for an explanation. You'd then need to respond with copies of your new W-2s and explain the situation. It's manageable but definitely an unnecessary headache that proper W-2 C forms would avoid.

This is terrible advice. The IRS absolutely notices these discrepancies and it's not about them "having bigger things to worry about" - their automated systems flag mismatches between what employers report and what individuals report. I do tax prep professionally and have seen numerous clients get notices because of exactly this situation.

Maybe I just got lucky then! I guess everyone's experience is different. I was just trying to reassure OP that it might not be the end of the world if they can't get proper W-2 Cs.

That's exactly what worries me - what else are they missing? The firm has been around for decades and has a good reputation locally, but they might not have enough trust experience. Do you think it's worth having someone do a comprehensive review of all the past returns, or would that cost more than it's worth given the dollars involved?

A comprehensive review could be expensive, potentially costing more than you'd recover. A practical approach might be to have another firm do a focused review looking only at common trust tax issues like the US Obligations, proper allocation of deductions, and correct classification of distributions. Explain the situation and ask for a limited review rather than a full audit of past returns. Focus on the last 3-4 years since those are still amendable. The review might cost $500-800, but if they find additional errors, it could pay for itself. Plus, it gives you peace of mind about other potential issues. Either way, I'd seriously consider finding a new accountant with more trust experience for future returns.

Not OP but this is super helpful. I'm also a trustee and never heard of the 65-day rule. Can you explain what that is? My accountant has never mentioned it.

Can EAs help with business structure advice too? Like if I'm trying to decide between LLC vs S-Corp? My main concern is reducing self-employment tax.

Yes, most EAs can definitely help with business structure questions like LLC vs S-Corp decisions. Many specialize in small business taxation and self-employment tax strategies. My EA was incredibly helpful in analyzing when an S-Corp election would make sense for me (generally when netting over $40K in profit). Just make sure you ask them specifically about their experience with business structures and self-employment tax strategies during your initial consultation. Not all EAs focus on business clients - some specialize in other areas like individual taxation or representation during audits.

This is such a good point! I had a CPA who was impossible to reach by email and wanted everything printed. My new tax person uses a secure portal and it saves so much time.

100% agree! The client portal has been life-changing for me. I can just take photos of receipts with my phone and upload them immediately rather than having a dreaded "tax receipt box" that I'd have to sort through later. My current CPA also uses software that automatically categorizes most of my transactions, which means I'm spending about 1 hour a month on bookkeeping instead of 5+ hours. Definitely worth asking about their tech setup during the interview process!

Good point! I'll ask her to look at her W-4. She started this job last January and I'm wondering if she just filled something out wrong when she started. Is there an easy way for her to check what she put on the form?

She can ask her HR department or payroll provider for a copy of her current W-4 on file. Most employers will readily provide this. She can also just look at her pay stub - it usually shows the withholding status or at least the amount being withheld (which in her case would be $0). While she's at it, she should file a new W-4 right away. The form was completely redesigned a few years ago and no longer uses allowances. Instead, it has a more straightforward worksheet approach. The IRS also has a Tax Withholding Estimator tool on their website that can help her figure out exactly what to put on the new form.

This! Head of Household status is huge for single parents. The standard deduction for 2024 is $20,800 for HOH vs just $13,850 for single filers. That's a $6,950 difference which could save her over $800 in taxes!